Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj” that means “to join”, “to unite”, or “to disciplinate.” Originating in India, yoga is a healing spiritual, physical, and mental practice with over 5,000 years of history. The main purpose of this practice is to harmonize the body with mind through a variety of postures, meditation, and breathing techniques.

History of Yoga

The first mention of yoga was found in an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit songs, mantras and rituals known as the Rig Veda (1500 B.C.E.). “Vedic Yoga” consisted of ritual sacrifices and ceremonies. Two and a half thousands years later, yoga was described in Bhagavad-Gîtâ (“Song of the Lord”) as the ego sacrifice through self-knowledge, action and wisdom. This practice, known as pre-classical yoga, was a mix of ideas, beliefs and techniques that frequently contradicted each other.

The next era for Yoga development or classical yoga was defined in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali in 400 C.E. Patañjali described eight components of yoga that lead to enlightenment. Developed later, post-classical yoga or Tantra Yoga is known for radical cleansing techniques for body and mind. Modern yoga was born in the early nineteenth century.